Kudumari Falls - Beauty Of This Falls Truely Beckons The Adventure Lovers

KUDUMARI FALLS

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UDUPI

Kudumari Falls is in Chaktikal village in Kundapura Taluk of Udupi district in Karnataka.  The waterfall is also called Belligunndi and Chaktikal waterfall. The fall is one of the major attraction in Kundapura. The town of Kundapura is surrounded by mountain ranges giving it a picturesque grandeur. Kundapura is an ideal spot for adventure lovers to indulge in trekking, mountaineering etc.  The serene backwaters is also an ideal spot for boating.

The Kudumari Waterfalls are located deep in the forests bordering western Ghats. Hence to reach the waterfall one need to take a 3km long trek through the forests.  Amidst the gigantic western Ghats and the breathtaking view of the luscious greenery, the waterfalls stand amazingly. The splendid coastline of the Arabian

The splendid coastline of the Arabian Sea is also evident from the waterfall. The beauty of the place is quite inviting to all adventure seekers. The waterfall is around a height of 300 meters. It falls between the lush greenery. The waterfall looks elegant from the distance among the greenery. The beauty truly beckons the tourists and adventure lovers.

As the waterfall is situated deep inside the forest, one needs to take a walk into the forest to witness the beauty. The spellbound beauty of the dense forest can be perceived as one moves along the path through the luscious greenery. The thick forests is an easy way to the waterfall.

The waterfall can also be reached on an alternate route. The base of the waterfall is accessible by trekking along the stream. The route is approachable from the coastline. The route is safe during the post monsoon season. During monsoon season, the water level is quite high and hence the route is less traversed.

The trekking through the dense forest is truly enthralling. The walk around 4km distance through the dense forests of western Ghats keeps you enticed all along. The trekking covers all kind of rocky terrain. It would an adventurous and thrilling experience for any avid trekkers. The walk through the rocks and boulders towards the cascading waterfall is quite dangerous, yet magnificent. The waterfall looks like strips of silver amidst the bright green envelope of luscious green trees.

Monsoon is not the right time to visit, as the water level would be higher, causing difficulty for trekkers to trek to the waterfall. The time from November to January is the best time to visit.The trekking takes almost two hours trek one way.

Timing:  Mon- Sunday morning 8:00 to 5:00 pm

By Air

Mangalore Airport is the nearest airport at a distance of 173 km. Tourists can reach Kudumari waterfalls by hiring a taxi or even take up buses that ply to Udupi.

By Train

Kundapura is the nearest railway station to reach Kudumari waterfalls. From Kundapura tourists can hire a taxi, or a bus to reach Chaktikal village.

By Road

Udupi is quite accessible by road from major cities like Bangalore and Mangalore etc.  From Udupi to Chaktikal village one can take up any means like a bus or rent a taxi which is just 93 km. Chaktikal to Kudumari waterfall is a two-hour long trek.

Source: karnataka.com

Omkareshwara Temple - King Lingarajendra 2nd Built This Temple For His Mental Peace In 18th Century

OMKARESHWAR TEMPLE

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MADIKERI

Omkareshwara Temple is situated in the middle town of Madikeri of Kodagu district in the Karnataka State of India. It is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shive.The speciality of the temple is that its construction reflects a mix of Gothic and Islamic styles, It is a popular religious destination of Coorg. The temple draws a large number of tourists and devotees regularly.

The Omkareshwara Temple was constructed by King Lingarajendra II in the 18th century. Legend has it that the temple was built by the king as a form of penance.The story goes around that the king had killed a Brahmin to fulfil his political ambitions. However, the king started to have nightmares for his cruel deed. In order to free himself from the nightmares, the King sought the advice of a few wise men. They asked the king to build a temple of Lord Shiva to regain his mental peace.

The king followed their advice and brought a Shivalingam from the holy town of Kashi and installed it at a newly constructed temple. It is said that the stopped having the nightmares king after the temple was built. This Shivalingam is worshipped as Omkareshwara.

The Omkareshwara Temple displays a unique style of architecture. The temple has a design that is quite similar to the ones seen in Muslim dargah. The structure of the temple comprises of a large central dome with four minarets standing at the four corners.

The interesting thing to note is that the temple lacks a pillared hall as is common in most temples of India. The Shivalingam is installed near the entrance door. The history of the temple has been inscribed on a copper plate and fixed on the entrance door frame.

The Omkareshwara Temple is a large and simple structure with a peaceful ambiance. A water tank exists inside the temple premises. The tank has a mantapa built in the centre. This mantapa is connected by a walkway. A large number of fishes can be seen playing in the water of the tank at any time. As such, the tank attracts the attention of the tourists and devotees who visit the temple.

Timings: 6:30 AM to 12:00 Noon; 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Best time to visit: between the months of October to March

Entry Fee: Free

Duration of Visit: 1 hour (approximately)

Temple Info

Abhisheka – 6:30 AM to 6:45 AM

Ganga Pooja – 7:00 AM

Maha Pooja – 12:00 noon

Maha Pooja – 8:00 PM

Every Full moon day – Mass Sathyanarayana Pooja

Every 1st Tuesday of the month – Mass Ganahoma at Kote Ganapathi temple

By Air

The Mysore airport is the nearest one to Madikeri as the small town has no airport. Mysore is connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hubli, and Dubai via Bangalore. The Mangalore International Airport at Mangalore can also be assessed to reach the town of Madikeri.

By Train

Madikeri does not have a railway station of its own. The nearest rail stations are located at Hassan, Kasaragod, and Kannur (each of which approximately 115 km away from Madikeri).Mysore and Mangalore are at a distance of 140 km from Madikeri and can be good alternatives to reach Madikeri through the train route.

By Bus

Madikeri is located near the Karnataka State Highway 88 that connects Mysore to Mangalore. This makes Madikeri a well-connected place by the road network.There are several public buses that ply from Madikeri to a number of places in Karnataka and Kerala. There are frequent KSRTC buses that connect Madikeri to Bangalore, Mysore, Virajpet, etc. The town can also be reached by private cars and hired cabs.